Folding inflatable surfboard

ABSTRACT

An elongated inflatable body including a flexible but substantially non-elastic and transversely convexed top wall. An elongated flexible panel constructed of flexible but stiff material is also provided and is capable of being bowed in only one direction at a time. The panel overlies the top wall of the inflatable body, when the latter is inflated, in surface-tosurface contact therewith and with the panel in a corresponding transversely bowed condition. The opposite marginal edge portions of the panel and the adjacent portions of the top wall of the body include coacting portions preventing lateral shifting of the panel edge portions outwardly relative to the aforementioned corresponding portions of the top wall and the internal pressure within the body serves to maintain the body top wall in a transversely bowed condition. Thus, the distance between the aforementioned corresponding portions of the top wall at the opposite sides thereof is maintained to thereby maintain the overlying stiff panel in a transversely bowed condition. Inasmuch as the panel is maintained in a transversely bowed condition and therefore resists being bowed longitudinally, the inflatable body is braced against longitudinal bowing. Further, the panel and body, when the latter is deflated, are each capable of being longitudinally rolled into a compact state with the rolled body nested within the rolled panel and a carrying case is provided to receive the rolled panel and the rolled body nested therein, the carrying case being of a size and shape to maintain the panel in a rolled condition.

United States Patent Le Blane, Sr.

[54] FOLDING INFLATABLE SURFBOARD [72] Inventor: Leo J. Le Blane, Sr.,1116 Cypress Lake Drive, Fort Myers, Fla. 33902 [22] Filed: Sept. 29,1970 [21] Appl.No.: 76,366

52 us. c1. v 9/3101- [51 Int. c1. ..A63c 15/02 [58] FleldofSearch..9/3l0R,3l0E,3l0F,6R

[56] Relerences Clted UNITED STATES PATENTS 1 ,m 1 ,642 5/1928 Hopkinson..9/310 F 2,064,128 12/1936 Smithers et al. ..9/310 F 2,5l3,857 7/1950Friedrich I ..9/310 E Primary Examiner-Milton Buchler AssistantExaminer-Pauli. Sauberer Attorney-Clarence A. O'Brien and Harvey B.Jacobson [57] ABSTRACT An elongated inflatable body including a flexiblebut substantially non-elastic and transversely convexed top wall. Anelongated flexible panel constructed of flexible but stiff material isalso provided and is capable of being bowed in only one direction at atime. The panel overlies the top wall of the inflatable body, when thelatter is inflated, in surface-to-surface contact therewith and with thepanel in a corresponding transversely bowed condition. The oppositemarginal edge portions of the panel and the adjacent portions of the topwall of the body include coacting portions preventing lateral shiftingof the panel edge portions outwardly relative to the aforementionedcorresponding portions of the top wall and the internal pressure withinthe body serves to maintain the body top wall in a transversely bowedcondition. Thus, the distance between the aforementioned correspondingportions of the top wall at the opposite sides thereof is maintained tothereby maintain the overlying stiff panel in a transversely bowedcondition. l n-.

asmuch as the panel is maintained in a transversely bowed condition andtherefore resists being bowed longitudinally, the inflatable body isbraced against longitudinal bowing. Further, the panel and'body, whenthe latter is deflated, are each capable of being longitudinally rolledinto a compact state with the 'rolled body nested within the rolledpanel and a carrying case is provided to receive the rolled panel andthe rolled body nested therein, the carrying case being of a size andshape to maintain the panel in a rolled condition.

10 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTED APR 2 5 m2 3.657.753 SHEET 20F 2FOLDING INFLATABLE SURFBOARD The folding inflatable surfboard of theinstant invention has been designed to provide a means whereby a usablesurfboard may be transported and stored in a compact state. Surfboardsare sometimes constructed in excess of 7 feet in length and thetransportation and storage of a rigid surfboard of this size presentsconsiderable problems.

While sectional surfboards have been heretofore designed and thesesectional surfboards may be dismantled so as to occupy a shorter butbulkier transportation or storage space, these sectional surfboards,when disassembled, occupy substantially the same volume of a rigidsurfboard which may not be broken down into a plurality of parts.Further, these sectional surfboards are subject to breakage at theintersection between adjacent components thereof.

On the other hand, the surfboard of the instant invention is constructedin a manner whereby it may be disassembled and placed within a carryingcase of appreciably less volume than the surfboard occupies when it isin the fully erected state. The surfboard includes an inflatable bodyportion which of course may be deflated and rolled into a compact state.However, an elongated inflatable body in excess of 7 feet in lengthcannot be readily constructed so as to resist longitudinal bowing.Therefore, the surfboard of the instant invention includes a novel toppanel constructed from a sheet of stifi but bendable material such asplastic or lightweight metal. The panel, by its stiffness, and in themanner of sheet metal, may be readily rolled or bowed in one directionso as to resist bowing in all other directions. The panel is attached tothe upper surface of the inflatable body in a manner whereby thenon-elastic body, when inflated, maintains the rigidifying panel in atransversely bowed condition and yet the surfboard is constructed so asto enable ready separation of the rigidifying panel from the inflatablebody of the surfboard once the surfboard has been deflated.

The main object of this invention is to provide a surfboard which may bereadily collapsed into a storage or transport condition occupyingconsiderably less volume and other shape that may be readily transportedand stored.

Another object of this invention, in accordance with the immediatelypreceding object, is to provide an inflatable surfboard body which maybe rolled into a compact state when deflated and which includes anelongated transversely bowed rigidifying panel anchored thereto when thesurfboard is in a fully erected position with the rigidifying panelpreventing longitudinal bowing of the inflatable body portion of thesurfboard.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a surfboard inaccordance with the preceding objects and constructed in a mannerwhereby the body and rigidifying panel thereof may be rolled intorelatively nested conditions for compact storage.

Another object of this invention is to provide a carrying case for therelatively nested body and rigidifying panel portions of the surfboard.

A final object of this invention to be specifically enumerated herein isto provide a collapsible surfboard in accordance with the precedingobjects and which will conform to conventional forms of manufacture, beof simple construction and easy to use so as to provide a device thatwill be economically feasible, long lasting and relatively trouble-freev in operation.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the carrying case portion of the instantinvention with the folding inflatable surfboard disposed within thecarrying case and only the depending skeg portion of the surfboardprojecting outwardly of one side wall of the case;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the inflatable body portion ofthe, surfboard in a deflated and rolled condition, the stiffening panelportion of the surfboard in a rolled condition and the carrying case inan open position preparatory to insertion of the rolled deflated bodyportion of the surfboard within the rolled stiffening panel portion ofthe surfboard and placement of the thus nested body and stiffening panelportions of the surfboard within the carrying case;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the surfboard in a fully assembledcondition;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 but with the stifi'ening panelportion of the surfboard in exploded position;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged transverse vertical sectional view takensubstantially upon the plane passing through the rear end portion of thesurfboard illustrated in FIG. 3; and

FIG. 6 is an end elevational view of the exploded assembly illustratedin FIG. 4.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, the numeral 10generally designates the surfboard of the instant invention. Thesurfboard 10 includes an inflatable body referred to in general by thereference numeral 12 and an elongated stiffening panel referred to ingeneral by the reference numetal 14 and including a depending skeg 16 atits rear end portion.

The body 12 is constructed of any suitable material and so as to includea vertically extending and rearwardly opening slot 18 in its rear endportion when the body 12 is inflated. Any suitable overall shape may bebuilt into the body 12 to be assumed as the latter is inflated and thematerial of which the body 12 is constructed is of course impervious tothe passage of air therethrough and may include embedded reinforcingcords 20 constructed of any suitable material. The cords 20 may extendnot only longitudinally of the body 12 but also transversely thereof soas to ensure that the body 12 will, by itself, resist being deformedfrom the shape thereof illustrated in FIG. 4 of the drawings when thebody portion 12 is inflated. The rear end of the body or body portion 12is provided with an inflation valve 22 and it may be seen that the body12 includes transversely convexed longitudinally extending upper andlower walls 24 and 26. Further, from FIGS. 4 and 5 of the drawings itmay be seen that the upper or top wall 24 includes opposite sidelongitudinally extending integral portions 28 which define inwardlyopening channels 30 extending along opposite side portions of the body12. The forward ends of the channels 30 are connected by means of aforward transverse connecting channel 32.

The stiffening panel 14 may be constructed of any suitable stiff butbendable material such as plastic or metal which may be bowed in onlyone direction. The panel 14 includes generally parallel opposite sideedges 32 which are spaced apart a distance slightly greater than theremote portions of the channel 30 when the top wall 24 is disposed in aplanar condition. Further, the rigidifying panel 14 has the dependingskeg 16 secured to one end thereof and the skeg 16 may be formed as anintegral portion of the panel 14 and of the same material.

Inasmuch as the panel 14 may be bowed in only one direction, it may betransversely bowed in the manner illustrated in FIGS. 3 through 5 of thedrawings, or it may be longitudinally rolled in the manner illustratedin FIG. 2 of the drawings. However, once the panel 14 is bowed in themanner illustrated in FIGS. 3 through 5 of the drawings, by beingconstructed of stiff material it strongly resists longitudinal bowing.

In assembling the surfboard 10, the body 12 is first disposed in agenerally straight condition while it is deflated. Then, the stiffeningpanel 14 is transversely bowed and laid over the top wall 24 of the body12 while in a bowed condition so as to enable the opposite side edges 32of the panel 14 to be' received in the channels 30. With the panel 14thus transversely bowed and the top wall 24 disposed in a generallyplanar condition, the opposite side edges 32 of the panel 14 areprevented from spreading further apart by being seated in the channels30 and thus the panel 14 is retained in a transversely bowed condition.Of course, when the panel 14 is initially engaged with the body 12, theforwardend of the panel '14 is received in the channel 34 and the skeg16 is received through the slot 18.

Thereafter, the body 12 is inflated and the pressure within ,the body 12acts upon the upper wall 24 thereof to urge the latter upwardly tightagainst the undersurface of the panel 14 so as to ensure thatthe latteris maintained in a tensioned condition. Of course, any inflatablematerial, even though reinforced by reinforcing cords such as the cords20, may expand slightly when inflated and thus, any expansion orstretching of the upper or top wall 24 of the body 12 is compensated forby the pressure within the body 12 pushing the top wall 24 into a bowedcondition against the undersurface of the panel 14. With the panel 14thus installed and the body 12 inflated, the panel 14 is even moregreatly bowed transversely and will of course strongly resistlongitudinal bowing. Thus, with the rigidifying panel 14 secured overthe upper or top wall 24 of the body 12, the body 12 is braced againstlongitudinal bowing and may be utilized effectively as a surfboard. cWhen it is desired to collapse the surfboard 10, the body 12 is deflatedand the rigidifying panel 14 is removed. Then, beginning with the frontend of the body 12, the latter is rolled tightly into a rolled conditionsuch as that illustrated in the right hand portion of FIG. 2 of thedrawings. Then, the rigidifying panel 14 is rolled beginning from thefront end thereof until it is in the condition illustrated in the upperleft hand portion of FIG. 2 of the drawings with only the rear endportion of the rigidifying panel from which the skeg 16 is supportedbeing disposed in a generally planar condition. Then, the rolled body 12is inserted into the rolled rigidifying panel 14 and the resultantassembly is inserted within the carrying case generally referred to bythe reference numeral 36 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings.The carrying case 36 is of a generally cylindrical configurationconforming to the shape of the panel 14 when it is rolled and includesone planar side wall portion 38 in which a slot 40 is formed to receivethe skeg l6 therethrough when the rolled rigidifying panel 14 and rolledbody 12 are disposed within the c'ase 36. The case 36 includes generallyplanar opposite end walls 42 and 44 and the upper wall portion 46 of thecarrying case 36 includes a flexible closure flap portion 48 which maybe closedby means of a slide fastener assembly 50. Of course, as soon asthe rolled rigidifying panel 14, with the rolled body 12 disposedtherein, is disposed within the case 36 and the flap 44 is secured inthe closed position by means of the slide fastener assembly 50, thecomponents 12 and 14 of the surfboard 10 are secured in their rolledconditions. i p v v The foregoing is considered as illustrative only ofthe principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modificationsand changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is notdesired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operationshown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications andequivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of theinvention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. An inflatable surfboard including an elongated tubular inflatablebody constructed of flexible air impervious and substantiallynon-stretchable material, said body, when inflated, being of less heightthan width and including a transversely upwardly convexed top wall, anelongated stifiening panel including opposite side edge portionsoverlying said top wall in transversely upwardly convex bowed condition,said edge portions and the opposite side marginal portions of said topwall including means coacting to releasably secure said edge portions tosaid marginal portions with said edge portions retained in maximumrelative spaced relation and thus said panel retained in a bowedcondition, the pressure within said body serving to maintain said topwall in a transversely upwardly convex bowed condition with the uppersurface of said top wall in surface to surface contacting relation withthe undersurface of said panel, said panel being constructed of a stifibut bendable and resilient material whereby said panel, while bowed inone direction, will strongly resist bowing in a second directiontransverse to the first-mentioned direction.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said panel and said body, when thelatter is deflated, may each be rolled longitudinally into compactcylindrical configuration.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said body, when rolled, may betelescoped into the rolled panel.

4. The combination of claim 3 including a hollow carrying case ofgenerally cylindrical configuration in which said rolled panel, with therolled body nested therein, may be received,

said case including a closable opening in one wall thereof through whichthe rolled panel may be inserted into the case.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein a second wall portion of said casehas a slot formed therein, said body, when inflated including arearwardly opening slot formed vertically through the rear end of saidbody, said panel including a depending skeg at its rear end portion,which projects downward through said body slot when said surfboard isassembled in inflated condition, said panel having the undersurface ofits rear end portion disposed outermost when said panel islongitudinally rolled, said skeg, when said rolled panel is disposedwithin said case, projecting outwardly through said slot in said secondwall portion thereof.

6. The combination of claim 1 wherein said coacting means includesopposite side marginal portionsof said top wall of said body defininginwardly opening and opposing channels extending longitudinally alongthe opposite side marginal edge portions of said top wall and theopposite side edges "of said panel seated in said channels.

7. The combination of claim 1 wherein the forward ends of said channelsare communicated by the opposite ends of a rearwardly opening U-shapedchannel extending across the forward end portion of the top wall of saidbody, the forward end of said panel including a complementary forwardedge seated in said U-shaped channel.

8. The combination of claim 1 wherein the upper surface of said panel isroughened. 1

9. The combination of claim 1 wherein said panel, when standing free, isgenerally planar.

10. An inflatable surfboard including an elongated tubular inflatablebody constructed of flexible air impervious and substantiallynon-stretchable material, said body, when inflated, being of less heightthan width and including a transversely upwardly convexed, top wall, anelongated stiffening panel, overlying the top wall of said body andsecured thereto in a manner stiffening said body against longitudinalbending.

1. An inflatable surfboard including an elongated tubular inflatablebody constructed of flexible air impervious and substantiallynon-stretchable material, said body, when inflated, being of less heightthan width and including a transversely upwardly convexed top wall, anelongated stiffening panel including opposite side edge portionsoverlying said top wall in transversely upwardly convex bowed condition,said edge portions and the opposite side marginal portions of said topwall including means coacting to releasably secure said edge portions tosaid marginal portions with said edge portions retained in maximumrelative spaced relation and thus said panel retained in a bowedcondition, the pressure within said body serving to maintain said topwall in a transversely upwardly convex bowed condition with the uppersurface of said top wall in surface to surface contacting relation withthe undersurface of said panel, said panel being constructed of a stiffbut bendable and resilient material whereby said panel, while bowed inone direction, will strongly resist bowing in a second directiontransverse to the first-mentioned direction.
 2. The combination of claim1 wherein said panel and said body, when the latter is deflated, mayeach be rolled longitudinally into compact cylindrical configuration. 3.The combination of claim 2 wherein said body, when rolled, may betelescoped into the rolled panel.
 4. The combination of claim 3including a hollow carrying case of generally cylindrical configurationin which said rolled panel, with the rolled body nested therein, may bereceived, said case including a closable opening in one wall thereofthrough which the rolled panel may be inserted into the case.
 5. Thecombination of claim 4 wherein a second wall portion of said case has aslot formed therein, said body, when inflated including a rearwardlyopening slot formed vertically through the rear end of said body, saidpanel including a depending skeg at its rear end portion, which projectsdownward through said body slot when said surfboard is assembled ininflated condition, said panel having the undersurface of its rear endportion disposed outermost when said panel is longitudinally rolled,said skeg, when said rolled panel is disposed within said case,projecting outwardly through said slot in saiD second wall portionthereof.
 6. The combination of claim 1 wherein said coacting meansincludes opposite side marginal portions of said top wall of said bodydefining inwardly opening and opposing channels extending longitudinallyalong the opposite side marginal edge portions of said top wall and theopposite side edges of said panel seated in said channels.
 7. Thecombination of claim 1 wherein the forward ends of said channels arecommunicated by the opposite ends of a rearwardly opening U-shapedchannel extending across the forward end portion of the top wall of saidbody, the forward end of said panel including a complementary forwardedge seated in said U-shaped channel.
 8. The combination of claim 1wherein the upper surface of said panel is roughened.
 9. The combinationof claim 1 wherein said panel, when standing free, is generally planar.10. An inflatable surfboard including an elongated tubular inflatablebody constructed of flexible air impervious and substantiallynon-stretchable material, said body, when inflated, being of less heightthan width and including a transversely upwardly convexed top wall, anelongated stiffening panel, overlying the top wall of said body andsecured thereto in a manner stiffening said body against longitudinalbending.